Window sun visor louver assembly



July24, 1956 M. o. HONER 2,755,524

WINDOW SUN VISOR LOUVER ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG. .L.

INVENTOR.

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M. O. HONER WINDOW SUN VISOR LOUVER ASSEMBLY O O O July 24, 1956 FiledNov. 28, 1952 INVENTOR. M/CHfl EL 0. HOA/EQ 7/Z W6mwz w 0m .4 TTO/Q/VEYS,

W SUN VISOR LOUVER ASSEMBLY Michael 0. Honer, Omaha, Nebr.

Application November 28, 1952, Serial No. 322,863

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-62) This invention relates to louver assemblies forbuilding windows and more particularly to an assembly adapted to bedisposed at the outer side of a Window and having adjustable louverboards.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved louverassembly which can be mounted on a window frame at the outside of awindow and extends over the entire window; which includes an opaquepanel covering the upper portion of the window and a louver assemblyhaving generally horizontally disposed and angularly adjustable louverboards enclosing the louver portion of the window; which has adjustablelouver boardsextending outwardly from the window a distance sufficientto exclude rain and direct sunlight from the louver portion of thewindow while permitting the free flow of air through the window andwhich can be closed to exclude wind and wind-driven precipitation; whichincludes a screen covering the louver assembly on the outside and meansfor adjustably moving the louver boards from inside the window; andwhich is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture,easy to install, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a window frame with a louver assemblyillustrative of the invention operatively mounted on the window frame;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 22 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 33 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a lower cornerportion of the louver assembly; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing details of themeans for angularly adjusting the louver boards.

With continued reference to the drawings, the window frame, generallyindicated at 10, includes spaced apart and substantially parallel siderails 11 and 12 vertically isposed along the opposite sides of a windowopening in a building wall, a header rail 13 extending between the siderails 11 and 12 at the upper ends of the latter and a window sill 14extending between the lower ends of the side rails 11 and 12 andprojecting outwardly from the lower ends of the side rails with its topsurface downwardly and outwardly inclined from the edge thereofextending between the lower ends of the side rails.

The louver assembly compn'ses a base frame 15 formed of fiat metal barsor lengths of scrap iron and includes spaced apart and substantiallyparallel side rail portions 16 and 17 which are vertically disposed andextend along the window frame side rails 11 and 12 respectively inspaced apart and parallel relationship to each other.

A main frame 20 is disposed against the outer side of 2,755,524 PatentedJuly 24, 1956 7 the base frame 10 and is formed of structural angle ironmembers including spaced apart and substantially parallel side members21 and 22 which extend along the outer surfaces of the side rails 16 and17 of the base frame and are secured to the base frame members, a headermember 23 extending between the upper ends of the main frame sidemembers 21 and 22 and a bottom cross member 24 extending between thebottom ends of the side members 21 and 22, the header member or topcross member 23 and the bottom cross member 24 being secured at theirends to the side members 21 and 22 at the corresponding ends of thelatter to provide a rigid frame of elongated, rectangular shape andhaving an internal size substantially the same as the size of theassociated window opening. The legs of the angle members of the mainframe at the inner sides of the members are disposed perpendicularly tothe plane of the main frame and project from the same side of this planeand the legs in the plane of the main frame project outwardly from theperpendicularly disposed legs to provide a flange or border around themain frame at the side of this frame adjacent the base frame 15, asillustrated in Figure 5.

Right angular sockets 25 and 26 are mounted on the base frame 15 one ateach lower corner of the base frame and these sockets project outwardlyfrom the base frame and receive the corresponding lower corners of themain frame 20. The main frame 21 is provided at each lower corner with afoot, as indicated at 27 in Figure 5, of right angular cross sectionalshape having one leg substantially in the plane of the main frame andits other leg extending perpendicular from this plane and disposed inspaced and substantially parallel relationship to the inner leg of thebottom cross member 24 of the main frame. Each foot 27 is provided inits outwardly projecting leg with apertures 28 spaced apartlongitudinally of the leg and the sockets 25 and 26 are provided intheir lower or horizontally disposed legs with apertures, as indicatedat 29. Screws or rivets extending through registering apertures 28 and29 secure the main frame at its lower corners to the corner sockets ofthe base frame 15 and thus secure the lower end of the main frame to thewindow frame 10.

A spacer strip 30 is secured to the header 13 of the window frame andextends between the upper ends of the side rails 16 and 17 of the baseframe slightly above the upper ends of these rails and a flat bar 31 issecured to this spacer bar at the outer side of the latter and overlapsthe outwardly extending leg of the top cross member 23 of the main frameto secure the upper end of the main frame to the window frame.

An inner frame is provided in the upper half of the main frame by angleirons, as indicated at 32 in Figure 3, extending one along each sidemember 21 and 22 of the main frame at the inner sides of the outwardlyextending legs of these side members and permanently secured to the sidemembers, a top inner frame member 33 also of right angular crosssectional shape extending along the top cross member 23 of the mainframe at the underside of the outwardly projecting leg of this top crossmember and permanently secured to the latter, and a bottom inner framecross member 34, also of right angular cross sectional shape, extendingbetween the outwardly projecting legs of the side members 21 and 22 ofthe main frame intermediate the length of these main frame side membersand secured at its ends to the latter. The top and side members of theinner frame have each one leg projecting perpendicularly inwardly fromthe inner surface of the corresponding leg of the associated main framemember and its other leg and spaced from the outer edge of the outwardlyprojecting leg of the corresponding main frame member and the bottomcross member 34 of the inner frame has one leg substantiallyhorizontally disposed and projecting outwardly of the main frame and itsother leg substantially vertically disposed and spaced inwardly of theouter edges of the outwardly projecting legs of the side members of themain frame.

.Ansopaque-panel,35, of, rectangular shape is disposed withintheupperportion ofthe main frame and against thetouter surfaces-of theinner-frame membersand fiat bars,as.indicated at36, 37,38 andv3S":extend along the side,.top and bottomedges of the paneltinsuperimposed relationship to the inwardly extending legs of the innerframe members. --.Suitable fasteners 40, such as screws or; rivets,extend through the barst36 to}? inclusive at spaced apartlocationsalongthesebars and through registering apertures in the -panel-r35 and:in the inwardly projecting legs of the correspon ding inner frame.members and firmly secure the panelinplace-in-the upperportion-of-the-main frame 20 of the assembly. The panel 35*rnay beprovided;.;in various forms-including apane of ;transparentmaterial,such as glass, but is preferably opaque and comprises an -inner plate 41of a suitable rigidmaterial, such as plywood, and an outer plate orcovering gt2 of a material-such-as linoleum, overlying the outersurfaceof the plate 41 and, protecting the plate 41flOHlgfillllQSPhfilflC conditions. A panel of the natureillustratedgincluding. a combinationof wood andlinoleum or similarmaterial is preferred ,because it darkens the upperportion of the windowto eliminate glare and also silences thenoise of minor otherprecipitation beating againstthe panel.

Abox frame, generally indicatedatAS, is secured at one sideto the mainframe 20 and encloses the lower portion of:the main frame below thepanel35. This box frame includes an outer portion ofrectangular shapehaving vertically disposed side members-46 and 47, a top cross member'48 and a bottom cross member 49 and this outer box frame portionisspaced outwardly from and'disposed substantiallyparallel to the lowerportion of the-main frame 20.

Upper diagonal members 50 and 51 are inclined upwardly from the opposite.upper corners of the front structure of the box frame to the mainframeside members 21 and 22 at locations somewhat abovethe bottom edge of thepanel 35 and bottom diagonal members 52 and 53 are inclined firstdownwardly and then upwardlyfrom the oppositebottom corners of the frontstructure of the boxiframeto the main frameside members .21 and 22 atthe bottom end .of these side members to provide. a somewhattrough-shaped vbottom to the box frame 45. Acovering 55 of wiretmesh orhardware cloth covers the front, end, top and bottom sides of the boxframe 45 and an outer covering 56 of a weather-resistant material, suchas .heavy canvas, covers the hardware cloth extending over the top endof the box frame.

The hardware cloth is secured to the box frame by suitable means, suchas the bars or straps 57 extending along the members of the box frame atthe outer side of the hardware cloth covering and over the outersurfaces of the outwardly projecting legs of the main frame members 21and 22. The outer edge of the fabric covering 56 is also secured to thebox frame by the bar 57 extending along the top member of the outerrectangular structure of the box frame and the fabric cover and hardwarecloth screen over the upper end of the box frame is secured by a pair ofmutually opposed angle iron members 58 and 59 which extend along theouter surface of the panel 35 at the inner ends of the diagonal uppermembers t) and 51 of the boxframestructure with the adjacent edges ofthe hardware cloth and fabric cover 56 clamped between outwardlyextending, mutually opposed legs of these angle iron members,these'members being secured to the panel 35 by suitable means, such asthe screws 60.

A plurality of louverboards, as indicated at 62 to 66 inclusive, ofelongated, rectangular shape, are disposed within the box framestructure 45 and extend transversely of this structure in-spaced apartand substantially parallel relationship to each other between the bottomedge of the panel 35 and the'bottom cross member '24 of the main frame.These louver; boards all project outwardly from the main frame and eachis pivotally connected at opposite ends of its edge adjacent the planeof the main frame to the main frame by suitable means, such as the hingebutts 67 secured to the corresponding louver board one at each end ofthe corresponding longitudinal edge thereof and pivotally connectedto-the outwardly projecting legs of the side members of the main frameby suitable pivot pins, as indicated at 68. All of the louver boards aresubstantially horizontally disposed and are spaced apart a distancemateriallyless thari their width so that light passing betweenthese-louver boards must pass between adjacent boards through a distancegreater than the vertical spacing between the outer edges of adjacentboards. This shape and spacing of the boards also preclude .rain fromp,assing through,the spaces between thetboards and enables thefboards toexclude even winddriven rain whenlowered to a downwardly inclinedposition relative to the axes of their pivotal connections with the.side members of the main frame.

The louverboards are. preferably formed of plates of suitable rigidmateriahsuch asplywood, covered on their upper surfaces withcoverings-of material, such as linoleum, to provide a sound deadeningeffect and enhance the appearance of the device. Reinforcing bars ofright angle cross sectional shape, as indicated at69, extendtransversely tot-each end of .each louver board and are secured to; thecorresponding board ln'position such that one leg ofeach reinforcingmemberisdisposed against the under surface of the corresponding boardandthe other leg depends vertically; from;the corresponding end of theboard, as illus trat ed in Figures 1 and 2. At their outer corners thelouver boards are pivotally connected together by strap iron bars-70 and71 which are connected to the corresponding reinforcing bars 69 at theouter ends of thesebars by suitable pivot pins or rivets 72 and maintainthe samespacing betw'eeni the outer edges of the adjacent boards .asthatmaintained between the inner edges of the boards by thepivotalconnectionof the boards to the side members 21 and. 22 of the main frame.

A vertically disposed connecting bar 72.extends transversely of theouter, edges of the llouverboards at the midlength locations of theseouter. edges and is pivotally connected tothe louver boardsby hinge.butts, as indicated at 73, mounted one on each :oflthelouver boards andprojecting outwardlytherefrorn, there .being provided pivot pins orrivets 74 pivotally connectiugtthe hinge butt 73 to the bar 72'.-;With.this arrangement, the louver boards will move simultaneously andcoextensively about the axis of their pivotal connections with the sidemembers :21 and :22 woftthe mainframe 20 of the device.

Brackettarms 75 and 76 project outwardly from the main frameisidemembers Hand 22 respectively oneat each end of the box framestructure and near the upper diagonal members; and 51.0f thisstructureand tension springs as indicated. at 77 and 78 are secured at theirupper ends to the outer ends of these bracket arms 75 and 76respectively and depend from the bracket arms. At their lower ends 'thespringsare connected to the louver board adjacent the .bottomlouverboard '66 at the respectively opposite ends ofwthisilouver board andresiliently urge all the louver boards to a position Y at which theyextend perpendicularlyoutwardly from the plane of the mainframe 20 ofthe device, as illustrated in Figure 1 The .bracketiarms and .76 aremade adjustable so that the tensioning of the corresponding springs 77and 78 can be variedto somewhat change the outward inclination ofthelouver..boards.

. A bell crank lever.80 is pivotally connected at its knee or bend totheoutwardlyprojecting -leg.of the side member .21 of the main framebetween the lower louver boards 65.ande66 and.has onealeg extendingupwardly adjacent the associated main frame member and its other legprojecting outwardly from the main frame member. A tension spring 81 isconnected at one end to the outer end of the bell crank lever 80 and atits upper end to the adjacent end of one of the upper louver boards,such as the board 62, for exerting a downward force on the louver boardswhen the spring is tensioned.

Apertnres are provided in the frame members 16 and 21 adjacent the upperend of the outwardly extending leg of the bell crank lever 80 and a nut81 is secured to the frame member 21 by a socket 82 secured to the framemember 21 at the outer side of the leg of this frame member disposedparallel to the base frame side member 16 with the screw threaded boreof the nut in registry with the apertures in the corresponding framemembers. A screw shaft 83 is threaded through the nut 81 and bears atone end against the outwardly extending leg of the bell crank lever 21.At its other end the screw shaft 83 extends inwardly of thecorresponding window and a hand crank 84 is secured to this inner end ofthe shaft for rotating the shaft.

When the screw shaft 83 is rotated in a direction to force the upwardlyextending leg of the bell crank lever away from the adjacent base andmain frame members, a downward pull will be exerted by the bell cranklever on the spring which will pull the outer edges of the louver boardsdownwardly against the force of the springs 77 and 78 and bring thelouver boards to positions of adjustment in which they are inclineddownwardly and outwardly from the axes of their pivotal connections withthe main frame members 21 and 22, as explained above.

A sheet metal shield or flashing 86 extends across the space between theside members 21 and 22 of the main frame and has one portion 87 disposedbelow and secured to the transverse angle member 34 supporting the loweredge of the panel 35, by suitable fasteners, such as the screws 88 andanother longitudinally extending portion 89 inclined downwardly andoutwardly from the outer edge of the portion 86 to a location adjacentthe upper surface of the top louver board 61 and spaced outwardly fromthe pivotally mounted inner edge of this louver board. A baffle 90 ofright angular cross sectional shape is disposed on the louver board 61at the pivotally connected edge of this louver board and extends acrossthe space between the side members of the main frame. This bafl le 90has one leg disposed upon and secured to the louver board 61 by suitablemeans, such as the screws 91, and has its other leg projecting upwardlyfrom the pivotally mounted edge of the louver board toward the shield 89to close the space between the pivotally mounted edge of the louverboard and the shield portion 87 and prevent wind and wind-drivenprecipitation from passing through this space from the outside of thewindow.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims, are therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. A louver assembly for windows comprising: a frame adapted to bestationarily mounted in a window opening; a series of spaced louversmounted in the frame for joint swinging movement about parallel axes;opposed srings connected between said series and frame and ex ertingpull in opposite directions upon the series of louvers to dispose thesame in a selected position in which the opposing forces of the springsare in a state of balance, said springs extending in parallel paths,said connections of the springs to the frame being disposed adjacentopposite ends of the series, each spring extending, from the connectionthereof to the frame adjacent one end of the series, to a locationadjacent the other end of the series; and means in the connection of oneof the springs to the frame for producing a temporary state of unbalancein the springs effective to swing the louvers in a selected directionfrom said position thereof.

2. A louver assembly for windows comprising: a frame adapted to bestationarily mounted in a window opening; a series of spaced louversmounted in the frame for joint swinging movement about parallel axes;opposed springs connected between said series and frame and exertingpull in opposite directions upon the series of louvers to dispose thesame in a selected position in which the opposing forces of the springsare in a state of balance; and means in the connection of one of thesprings to the frame for producing a temporary state of unbalance in thesprings effective to swing the louvers in a selected direction from saidposition thereof, said means including a bell crank lever pivotedintermediate its ends upon said frame and connected at one end to saidone spring, said means further including a manually rotatable screwthreaded in the frame and bearing against the other end of said lever,for swinging the lever about its pivot axis under the control of a user,said one spring being tensioned to exert a pull on said lever in adirection to swing said other end of the lever into engagement with thescrew, through a path generally following the axis of the screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS779,046 Jones et al. Jan. 3, 1905 1,529,573 Chappell Mar. 10, 19251,879,534 Schmidt Sept. 27, 1932 2,093,093 Mongus Sept. 14, 19372,220,833 Young Nov. 5, 1940 2,225,332 Collins Dec. 17, 1940 2,337,230Christianson Dec. 21, 1943

